The third in the Arts Council's Arts Digital R&D podcast series is now live. The series, hosted by arts and culture broadcaster and journalist John Wilson, explores the innovative use of digital technology in the arts and cultural sector and features discussion and debate from expert studio guests and pioneering case study examples of digital projects. Podcast 3 is all about using digital channels and technologies to distribute arts and cultural content and reach the widest possible audience including new and international audiences.

Studio guests include: Hasan Bakshi, Director, creative industries in NESTA’s Policy and Research Unit, Paul Bennun, Chair of Artangel and Co-Owner of Somethin’ Else Productions and Joanna Ellis from The Literary Platform. They dissect the opportunities and issues involved in sharing content digitally such as licensing and copyright, stragetic partnerships with the likes of YouTube and SkyArts, the new dawn of social literature projects in China and the risks around cannibalising ticket sales with live streams (listen out for some heated debate around this area!) Also we talk to the Royal Ballet about the experience of livestreaming with YouTube, the Berlin Philharmonic on the infrastructure cost and subscription mechanisms for live streaming orchestral concerts, The Sage Gateshead about live streaming concerts into rural venues, SkyArts on their arts partnerships and how they are increasing audience share via TV. Plus licensing insights from legal experts and the UK lead for Creative Commons. Each programme in the series will focus on one of the themes at the core of the new Digital R&D Fund for the Arts: User generated content and social media; Digital distribution and exhibition; Mobile, location and games; Data and archives; Resources; and Education and learning.